Our students choose to pursue a BS in Finance. This degree offers a strong foundation in the principles of valuation, financial statement analysis, and the concepts behind sound financial decision-making.

The Finance program leading to a BS degree is highly quantitative and computer intensive (Bloomberg). Many students will focus on developing a sophisticated understanding of options and futures and their role in financial risk management.

The successful finance student must have strong analytical skills and the ability to write and speak clearly and convincingly. Both the required and elective courses in the finance major help develop these skills. Many finance courses require the use of Bloomberg online, spreadsheets, statistical packages, graphics programs, presentation software, data modeling software, and word processing. Using these computer programs will aid in the development of the skills necessary for a degree that is marketable in the business community. The upper class courses incorporate all the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the program. Students will be required to apply financial knowledge and integrate knowledge from all the other disciplines of study. This integration will aid the development of sound and effective decision-making skills.

To ensure you are knowledgeable about current events in your major, you will be expected to read publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Financial Times as well as other publications. These readings will enhance your learning experience by showing "real life" applications of financial theories at work.

OBJECTIVES OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN FINANCE

The curriculum in finance seeks to develop an understanding of the role played by finance in various organizations. Finance deals with the acquisition and management of resources to accomplish organizational objectives within an acceptable risk/return profile.

The financial manager decides how to raise funds in the capital markets and how best to invest these funds in order to accomplish organizational objectives. To accomplish these tasks the discipline of finance has developed a sophisticated set of analytical tools that bring together concepts from a variety of sources such as economics, accounting and mathematics.

The concepts and techniques developed in finance are equally applicable to not-for-profit organizations that must also raise and invest funds in an efficient manner. Those skilled in financial analysis play a central role in deciding such current issues as mergers, buyouts and international investments.

The Finance program is accredited by AASCB – the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business.

The mission of the Finance Program at Tuskegee University is to provide a high quality educational experience that inspires our students to assume leadership in a global, ever changing, and diverse business world. These experiences result from the intellectual scholarship of the faculty both in and out of the instructional environment; a rigorous, relevant, and diverse curriculum; and the support of the Department’s programs by external stakeholders.

To achieve this mission, we strive to continually enhance the academic and professional stature of our programs. We also strive to maintain a scholastic climate in which the faculty can grow professionally; fulfill their responsibilities through high quality instruction, research, and professional service; and engage external stakeholders in our endeavors.

Strategic Goals of Finance Program:

The Finance Program within the Department of Economics and Finance at the College of Business and Information Science (CBIS) embraces the following strategic goals. These goals guide the accomplishments of our mission.

1. The program emphasizes teaching excellence.

2. The program will work to continuously improve the curriculum in order to ensure that it is relevant and up-to-date.

3. The program will review its course offerings to ensure that the seven undergraduate competencies (oral communication, written communication, creative thinking, disciplined thinking, teamwork, computer competence, and adaptability to change) are being addressed in graded assignments.

4. The program seeks to offer a diverse curriculum including a necessary balance of theory, practice, and applications.

5. The program seeks to provide its students with an exposure to global, diverse business practices and experiences.

6. The program seeks to engage students in an interactive learning environment that creates a desire to learn that goes beyond the classroom setting.Placement

The B.S in Finance will equip students with the tools to pursue an array of possible career paths. Students have been placed in fields such as investment banking, real estate, corporate finance, brokerage services, and insurance. The faculty realizes the importance of working with students to explore potential career choices and in job placement. The success students realize after graduation depends heavily on academic performance and participation in student organizations.

The finance club has worked closely with the faculty in developing a network of former TU alumni from the Economics and Finance Department. Active participation in this group has opened many doors which may not have been accessible to less active students. Students are encouraged to start their career planning early and to take full advantage of the facilities at the Office of Career Services.

Internships play an important role in introducing students to the work environment in a particular field. While internships are not available for every student, efforts are under way to place more students in internships during the summer. These positions are very competitive and students often vie for placement with students from other universities. Some finance students decide to pursue a graduate education. While many graduate schools require some experience, it is not unusual for students to proceed straight from an undergraduate degree to graduate work towards an M.B.A. or law degree or other advanced degree.

COURSES FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN FINANCE

301. PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE. Lect 3, 3 credits. This is an introductory course in corporate finance which aims to familiarize the students with the key concepts in the financial management including time value of money, risk and return, financial statement analysis, and asset valuation models. The central theme of the course is how to maximize the value of the firm. Prerequisite: Accounting 211, Economics 202.

302. INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. Lect. 3, 3 credits. This is the second course in corporate finance. The main topics to be covered in this course include working capital management, capital budgeting, capital structure and leverage, dividend policy, and mergers and acquisitions. Mini-cases and spreadsheets are used to help students to learn the financial decision-making process. Prerequisite: Finance 301; Junior standing.

369 MONEY AN CAPITAL MARKETS. Lect 3, 3 credits. A general study of the financial process and the nature of financial markets. Students will be exposed to aggregate investment and savings behavior; money capital markets, and the flow of funds. Attention will be given to the role of financial intermediaries and the international aspects of financial markets. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

421. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - CASES AND PROBLEMS. Lect. 3, 3 credits. Analysis of case problems in the area of corporate finance, investments and bank management utilizing the tools and techniques developed in prior banking and finance courses. Focus on current and academic research. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor.

422. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. Lect. 3, 3 credits. Topics to be covered are the functions of financial institutions, how banks serve business people, different kinds of banks and lending institutions concentrating on commercial banks. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor.

426. INVESTMENTS. Lect. 3, 3 credits. Designed to familiarize the student with the various investment techniques to include an analysis of the factors involved in the development of an investment portfolio. Prerequisite: Finance 409.

431. CORPORATE SURVIVAL SKILLS. Lect. 3, 3 credits. A study of professional development strategies to assist students in making the transition from college to the real world of business. The course includes goals and life planning, work and world realities, including racial, ethnic, sexual and other minority experiences, professional attire, social behavior, and corporate-type problems that are unique to Black managers.

451. INSURANCE. Lect. 3, 3 credits. A half-year course dealing with principles of insurable risks. It treats the basic ideas, problems and principles found in all types of modern day insurance and other methods of handling risks.